Safety tips before viewing the Total Solar Eclipse

Today a total eclipse of the sun will be visible along a 100-mile swath of Arkansas, including nearly the entirety of Southwest Arkansas.  It was predicted that approximately 1.5 million individuals were to journey to the state to witness the eclipse, and many were expected in the area.

Here are the time frames for the city of Nashville; the moon will partially eclipse the sun at 12:29 p.m. Totality begins at 1:46pm, the maximum eclipse at 1:49pm, and the partial eclipse ends at 3:08 p.m. Howard County will have a totality of three minutes and 43 seconds. 

Here are the time frames for the city of Murfreesboro; the moon will partially eclipse the sun at 11:58am. The start of totality will begin at 1:27pm and the end of totality at 1:29pm. The Partial Eclipse ends at 2:54pm. The total eclipse duration will last 1 minute and 55 seconds. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event, but a few precautions must be taken to enjoy it safely.

The Arkansas Department of Health has created an eclipse web page with public health and safety information in preparation for the solar eclipse. Below are some helpful tips to remember before the day of the eclipse.

HERE ARE SOME SAFETY TIPS BEFORE VIEWING THE ECLIPSE

Looking directly at the sun can damage the back of the eye (the retina) and lead to a condition known as solar retinopathy. If the damage is caused during an eclipse, it is known as eclipse retinopathy. Cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or a solar viewer before looking up at the sun. Ensure that they are certified to meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard for safe direct viewing of the sun. Do not look directly at the sun without proper eye protection when any part of it is visible, even a sliver. 

Do not look at the sun through a camera, a telescope, binoculars or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewer — the concentrated solar rays will damage the filter and enter your eye(s), causing serious injury. If you normally wear eyeglasses, put your eclipse glasses on over them, or hold your handheld viewer in front of them.

Ordinary sunglasses should not be used as a replacement for eclipse viewing glasses or handheld solar viewers.

Howard Memorial Hospital’s ER Director and Preparedness Coordinator Steven May explains in detail what will happen to your eyes if you don’t wear the eclipse glasses and other ways you can protect you and your children’s eyes.

ADEM Area Coordinator of Southwest Arkansas Cecil McGee, provided additional information on what counties that will be affected by the eclipse and what cities will have the longest viewing time of the eclipse.